Aer Lingus has officially welcomed the teams from Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and Florida State University (Florida State); along with their delegations, cheerleaders, marching bands and thousands of fans as they started to touch down in Dublin this morning ahead of the highly anticipated Aer Lingus College Football Classic this weekend.
With over 47,000 tickets sold – to include over 25,000 American fans crossing the Atlantic – this year’s game is officially a sell-out, mirroring the incredible success of previous years.
Around the event, Aer Lingus is operating four special charter flights—two inbound and two outbound—using its largest aircraft, the Airbus A330-300, each with a capacity of 317 seats. In total, 1,122 passengers, including players, coaches, and backroom staff, will be flown to and from Dublin for this monumental event.
The logistics are no small feat, involving 49 crew members, including both cockpit and cabin crew, who will manage not only the charter flights but also specialised Aer Lingus ground handling staff to assist with the check-in, boarding and loading of aircraft.
Additionally, the airline will handle a staggering 1,720 pieces of luggage, including 600 kit bags, and manage 16,000 kilograms (16 tons) of essential cargo, such as training equipment and protein drinks, ensuring that both teams are fully equipped for the big day.
The Aer Lingus College Football Classic is a significant economic driver for Ireland. With an expected economic impact of €115m this year alone, the event is set to inject substantial revenue into the local economy. Combined with the contributions from the previous two games, the series is projected to generate over €500m by the conclusion of the current five-game series.
“We couldn’t be more excited to bring the Aer Lingus College Football Classic back to Dublin,” said Susanne Carberry, Chief Customer Officer at Aer Lingus. “This event not only allows us to showcase our brand but also to demonstrate the warmth and hospitality of Ireland to a global audience. We’re thrilled to welcome over 25,000 fans from the US and say, ‘you’re very welcome’ as they embark on this unique sporting adventure with Aer Lingus.”
